Political strategist Karl Rove says President George W. Bush made the right decision to launch the Iraq war in 2003, but the former White House adviser admits the failure to find weapons of mass destruction badly damaged the administration's credibility.

In his new memoir, "Courage and Consequence," Rove blames himself for not pushing back against claims that Bush had taken the country to war under false pretenses, calling it one of the worst mistakes he made during the Bush presidency.

This is critically important information that the world community needs to know  Senator Santorum

Washington, D.C.  U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, joined Congressman Peter Hoekstra, (R-MI-2), Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today to make a major announcement regarding the release of newly declassified information that proves the existence of chemical munitions in Iraq since 2003. The information was released by the Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte, and contained an unclassified summary of analysis conducted by the National Ground Intelligence Center. In March, Senator Santorum began advocating for the release of these documents to the American public.

The information released today proves that weapons of mass destruction are, in fact, in Iraq, said Senator Santorum. It is essential for the American people to understand that these weapons are in Iraq. I will continue to advocate for the complete declassification of this report so we can more fully understand the complete WMD picture inside Iraq.

The following are the six key points contained in the unclassified overview:

 Despite many efforts to locate and destroy Iraqs pre-Gulf War chemical munitions, filled and unfilled pre-Gulf War chemical munitions are assessed to still exist.

 Pre-Gulf War Iraqi chemical weapons could be sold on the black market. Use of these weapons by terrorists or insurgent groups would have implications for Coalition forces in Iraq. The possibility of use outside Iraq cannot be ruled out.

 The most likely munitions remaining are sarin and mustard-filled projectiles.

 The purity of the agent inside the munitions depends on many factors, including the manufacturing process, potential additives, and environmental storage conditions. While agents degrade over time, chemical warfare agents remain hazardous and potentially lethal.

 It has been reported in open press that insurgents and Iraqi groups desire to acquire and use chemical weapons.

Not pushing back ? I have never heard a larger understatement . Thank for the new tone jive and allowing all of us to waste precious time fighting you and frat boys battles . Oh and thank for the Big O . Chump . By chump i mean Rove . Not you 3 .

"In 1998, the United States also changed its underlying policy toward Iraq from containment to regime change and began to examine options to effect such a change, including support for Iraqi opposition leaders within the country and abroad.

In the 4 years since the inspectors, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al-Qaida members, though there is apparently no evidence of his involvement in the terrible events of September 11, 2001."

"It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein wiill continue to increase his capability to wage biological and chemical warfare and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons. Should he succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security landscape of the Middle East which, as we know all too well, affects American security."Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002 Congressional Record  Sen. Hillary Clintonhttp://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2002_record&page=S10288&position=all____________________________________________________

John Kerry: I agree completely with this Administrations goal of a regime change in Iraq  Saddam Hussein is a renegade and outlaw who turned his back on the tough conditions of his surrender put in place by the United Nations in 1991. (July 2002)____________________________________________________

John Kerry: I believe the record of Saddam Husseins ruthless, reckless breach of international values and standards of behavior is cause enough for the world community to hold him accountable by use of force if necessary. ____________________________________________________

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." -Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002 U.S. Senate - Ted Kennedy____________________________________________________

"When I vote to give the President of the United States the authority to use force, if necessary, to disarm Saddam Hussein, it is because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a threat, and a grave threat, to our security and that of our allies in the Persian Gulf region. I will vote yes because I believe it is the best way to hold Saddam Hussein accountable." -Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9,2002 Congressional Record  Sen. John F. Kerryhttp://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2002_record&page=S10174&position=all____________________________________________________

John Kerry on the floor of the Senate October 2002:

"With respect to Saddam Hussein and the threat he presents, we must ask ourselves a simple question:

Why?

Why is Saddam Hussein pursuing weapons that most nations have agreed to limit or give up?

Why is Saddam Hussein guilty of breaking his own cease-fire agreement with the international community?

Why is Saddam Hussein attempting to develop nuclear weapons when most nations don't even try, and responsible nations that have them attempt to limit their potential for disaster?

The Joint Chiefs should provide Congress with casualty estimates for a war in Iraq as they have done in advance of every past conflict. These estimates should consider Saddam's possible use of chemical or biological weapons against our troops.

John Kerry: I would disagree with John McCain that it's the actual weapons of mass destruction he may use against us, it's what he may do in another invasion of Kuwait or in a miscalculation about the Kurds or a miscalculation about Iran or particularly Israel. Those are the things that--that I think present the greatest danger. He may even miscalculate and slide these weapons off to terrorist groups to invite them to be a surrogate to use them against the United States. It's the miscalculation that poses the greatest threat." (October 2002)____________________________________________________

John Kerry: If You Dont Believe . . . Saddam Hussein is a threat with nuclear weapons, then you shouldnt vote for me. (January 2003)____________________________________________________

John Kerry: Saddam Hussein is a brutal dictator who must be disarmed. (March 2003)____________________________________________________

"Saddam Hussein's regime represents a grave threat to America and our allies, including our vital ally, Israel. For more than two decades, Saddam Hussein has sought weapons of mass destruction through every available means. We know that he has chemical and biological weapons. He has already used them against his neighbors and his own people, and is trying to build more. We know that he is doing everything he can to build nuclear weapons, and we know that each day he gets closer to achieving that goal."..."Iraq has continued to seek nuclear weapons and develop its arsenal in defiance of the collective will of the international community, as expressed through the United Nations Security Council. It is violating the terms of the 1991 cease-fire that ended the Gulf war and as many as 16 Security Council resolutions, including 11 resolutions concerning Iraqs efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction." Sen. John Edwards, October 10, 2002 Congressional Record  Sen. John Edwardshttp://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2002_record&page=S10325&position=all____________________________________________________

"There is no doubt that since that time Saddam Hussein has invigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies." Letter to President Bush, Signed by Sen Bob Graham (D, FL,) and others, December 5, 2001http://usinfo.org/wf-archive/2001/011207/epf510.htm____________________________________________________

"We should be hell bent on getting those weapons of mass destruction, hell bent on having a credible approach to them, but we should try to do it in a way which keeps the world together and that achieves our goal which is removing the... defanging Saddam.." -Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Dec. 9, 2002 Online with Jim Lehrer  Public Broadcasting Servicehttp://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/july-dec02/iraq_12-10.html____________________________________________________

"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." -Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002 Transcript of Gores speech, printed in USA Todayhttp://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002-09-23-gore-text_x.htm____________________________________________________

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." -Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002 U.S. Senate - Ted Kennedy

"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..." -Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002 Congressional Record  Robert Byrdhttp://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2002_record&page=S9874&position=all____________________________________________________

"When I vote to give the President of the United States the authority to use force, if necessary, to disarm Saddam Hussein, it is because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a threat, and a grave threat, to our security and that of our allies in the Persian Gulf region. I will vote yes because I believe it is the best way to hold Saddam Hussein accountable." -Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9,2002 Congressional Record  Sen. John F. Kerryhttp://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2002_record&page=S10174&position=all____________________________________________________

"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years .. We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction."-Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002 Congressional Record Sen. Jay Rockefeller____________________________________________________

"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do" Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002 Congressional Record  Rep. Henry Waxman____________________________________________________

Pisser...you never fail to show you profound ignorance of the facts....but of course you live in the socialist state of Washington so that’s not surprising. You really need to spend your time unseating the commie Patty Murray from your shithole commie state. By the way with what time you have left over work on getting rid of the other commie jackasses that represent your state.

15
posted on 03/02/2010 4:06:15 PM PST
by RVN Airplane Driver
("To be born into freedom is an accident; to die in freedom is an obligation..)

Actually, she seems like an idiot for answering the questions in a way that would give RINOs an excuse to accuse her of being a truther and support their pet RINO in office. But her being an idiot is about 10 steps above illegal alien fellators Charlie Perry and Say DailyMushandSpin.

Your making crap up. She never once said she believed the truthers. Even on Beck’s show she didn’t. The next day she was unequivocal about who SHE thought was responsible the carnage - muzzies.

Perry is the worst open borders RINO next to Arnie and Mccain. Hopefully his fellating of illegals will disqualify him quickly when he runs in 2012. Of course, he’ll just lie through his teeth as usual and you’ll buy it.

LOL, she changed her story after the fact. It’s called damage control. I don’t buy into damage control. Fortunately most sane people know what she was saying and she’s finished in this state just like the rest of the truthers and paulbots are around the rest of the country. I’ll take a RINO (Perry is a RINO) any day over a pro-abort or truther any day of the week. Get rid of your commie up there in Washington State. Perry will go no where nationally since he is Mitt with a Texas accent, but he’s still better than a truther or pro-abort.

Believe it or not I tend to agree with you about much of RINO Perry, but like I said I won’t vote for a truther or pro-abort. You think Medina isn’t a truther and I do. Simple as that. We’ll just agree to disagree.

This is the one historians will read to understand what actually happened. What emerges is that the administration’s motivations were totally above board and admirable and that the Left’s “Bush Lied” meme is total bunk.

They put the emphasis on the wrong thing. Saddam’s terror connections, his al Qaeda ties and his likely involvement in the 9/11 attack were the primary reasons for the invasion and should have been presented as such. WMD’s were the secondary issue. With all the help Saddam was getting from corrupt Security Council member states, we should have anticipated those same states helping him get rid of them.

I see Colin Powell’s fingerprints all over the war strategy. And because it was his exit strategy that kept Saddam in power, he wanted no part of any Saddam/AQ/911 connection.

Yeah, I see that's your talking point. I don't have to change anything. Bush's emphasis on weapons that could be and were easily moved in the 18 month build-up to war was a mistake. De-emphasizing Saddam's documented terror-ties, included his connection to al Qaeda was a huge mistake. But I said this in my first post. You ignored that and pushed forward with your agenda. Because the facts of the Saddam/AQ connection are like poison to anti-war zealots like yourself.

But while we have you here, explain this away for everyone:

In addition, al Qaeda reached an understanding with the government of Iraq that al Qaeda would not work against that government and that on particular projects, specifically including weapons development, al Qaeda would work cooperatively with the Government of Iraq.

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